Alumni Feature

Biology programs provided vital background for alumna’s 15 years at Chevron

Becoming an important member of the team at Chevron took preparation, and Jean Wong is grateful she had the Biology Department at Fresno State to support her in her academic pursuits.

“I grew up in Fresno and attending Fresno State was a good choice, not only from a practical standpoint, but it had a solid program in biology,” she said. “I was particularly interested in molecular and cellular biology, and the university had a specific program in that area.”
 
A regulatory affairs advisor at Chevron, Jean consults in the application of local, state and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations as they apply to environmental cleanup and remediation. 

“I advise on strategy to work with the various government regulatory agencies and assist in negotiation with the agencies on the cleanup goals,” she said.
 
Jean has been with Chevron for more than 15 years, but she would have never reached her career goals without going after her dreams. Her parents were tremendously supportive of higher education, and encouraged her to achieve.

“My parents’ unwavering enthusiasm for the necessity of a solid education for a successful career was the key to getting me where I am today,” she said.

Jean credits the Biology Department at Fresno State for providing fundamentals she needed to succeed.

“The faculty at the Biology Department were some of the best instructors I’ve ever had,” she said. “ The background I had in biology was critical to further education and moving into research.”

Jean’s undergraduate faculty mentor supported her in getting a chemistry degree in addition to a biology degree. 

“Learning chemistry was key to understanding molecular biology,” she said. “My graduate mentor provided research opportunities using the latest technology.  This provided not only laboratory experience but allowed me to get into a doctorate program.”

Jean has a doctorate in environmental toxicology from the University of California, Riverside, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology from Fresno State. She also earned a B.A. in Chemistry at Fresno State. Her post-doctoral fellow work at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was research on hormone disruptors.